Gurdaspur election result: After securing an impressive mandate in Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, a buoyant Congress has termed the victory as 'beginning of revival of the grand old party'.

Gurdaspur election result: After securing an impressive mandate in Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, a buoyant Congress has termed the victory as ‘beginning of revival of the grand old party’. (IE image)

Gurdaspur election result: After securing an impressive mandate in Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, a buoyant Congress has termed the victory as ‘beginning of revival of the grand old party’. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has said, “When the BJP came to power in 2014, it was winning all universities. Now, the Congress is winning the university elections. It won Gurdaspur with a record margin. We will win Himachal Pradesh also. The winds of change are clear.” Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll by defeating his nearest rival, BJP nominee Swaran Salaria with a margin of 1,93,219 votes. Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes while Salaria polled 3,06,533, an election official said.

Punjab cabinet minister and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu had likened the Congress’ victory in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll to winning a Test cricket match by an innings and said it would have a demoralising effect on the BJP-SAD combine. Sidhu said, “This win is a big slap on the face of jija-sala (Sukhbir Badal-Bikram Majithia). Today, the BJP will feel that the Akali Dal in Punjab, especially the jija-sala, have become a burden.”

On the other hand, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had sought to downplay the BJP’s defeat in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll. “The graph of the BJP is rising among the people of the country. A win on one seat does not reflect public sentiments,” Singh said.

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The BJP-SAD alliance in Punjab have alleged that the ruling Congress party won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection by misusing the government machinery. The Aam Aadmi Party, which finished a distant third, too, made similar allegations against the Congress party. AAP nominee Maj. Gen. (retd) Suresh Khajuria accused the Congress party of using “undemocratic means” to win the byelection.

The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll was necessitated following the death of actor and BJP MP Vinod Khanna.